As a child, she was so hooked on Dairy Milk she had to have a bar every day.

She even decided to train as a chocolatier, opening her own business, York Cocoa House, last November.

Sophie Jewett is a chocolatier, despite her diagnosis of Crohn's. When she eliminated chocolate from her diet, her symptoms dramatically reduced

‘I come from a big family and was always making chocolates and biscuits for everyone,’ says Sophie, 31.

‘By the time I was 12 I was trying to work out how to make chocolate glossy, and became fascinated with the science of it.’

But two years ago, Sophie made a discovery that seemed like a cruel joke.

When she was a teen, she was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease — an inflammatory bowel disease characterised by pain, diarrhoea, vomiting, weight loss and tiredness — that can often be managed by working out what triggers the symptoms.

‘I’ve learned to listen to my body to find out how to get the best of it.

'I don’t avoid certain foods, but I try to balance my fibre intake.’

Of her discovery two years ago that her favourite food might be making her ill, Sophie adds: ‘By then all my other symptoms were under control but the reflux was so bad my doctors were considering operating to tighten the opening from my oesophagus to my stomach.

‘I discovered the possible link and stopped nibbling on chocolate — and for the first time in 16 years the reflux went away.

'I don’t think chocolate caused the Crohn’s disease, but maybe it exacerbated the onset of it.’

Her experiences haven’t put Sophie off chocolate — indeed, this year she organised York’s first chocolate festival and made truffles in honour of the Queen’s visit to the city.

‘Of course I can’t eat chocolate every day like I’d love to,’ she says.

‘And it’s hard sometimes when you’re surrounded by the one thing you’re not allowed to have. But after eliminating chocolate for a while, I can now allow myself a bit here and there.

‘I just stop if my throat starts niggling. It’s nice to know it won’t land me in hospital.

‘I do still crave a bar of Dairy Milk of course. And sometimes I can’t resist a little square.’

For more information about Crohn’s, see the Crohn’s and Colitis UK website at www.nacc.org.uk